NFL Quarter Season 2025 Awards
The 2025 NFL season is officially (more than) a quarter of the way over. It's time to prematurely hand out awards.
Who doesn't love a little 1/4 award talk? I'll be handing out who I think deserves each NFL award so far this season. And this is not a prediction, or who I think will play well the rest of the year. Just who I believe has played well enough through 5 weeks to earn the award. And because this is only a quarter season award, why not have some fun with it? *All HMs in order.
Let's get started!
MVP:
Baker Mayfield
1283 yards, 10 TDs, 1 INT, 65% cmp. 19 att, 144 yards.
Why not Baker? He's led four game winning drives this season, meaning he's dang near solely responsible for all of Tampa's wins. His only turnover came on another GW drive attempt, that failed in a once 31-13 game. He's been accurate all over the field and has taken advantage of space with his legs. Tied for the best record in the league, I'll ride with the Buccaneer magic.
HMs to: Josh Allen - had he won on SNF this may be his.
Dak Prescott - if his team wasn't bad, or he dragged them into 1st place, this is his.
Justin Herbert - OL broke down to such an extent that the passing game has become bad. This was his after 3 weeks.
Sam Darnold - has played elite, but broke down when it mattered in 2 losses.
OPOY:
Jonathan Taylor
94 att, 480 yards, 6 TDs. 16 rec, 133 yards, 1 TD
Leading the NFL in carries, yards, and TDs, while averaging over 5 yards a carry. He's the engine for the best offense in the NFL thus far, and there's no reason for him not to be the OPOY through 5 weeks.
HMs to: Bijan Robinson - Only 4 games, but the TD total is a bit low. Some of the best efficiency thus far, on the ground and air. Could be because he's played 1 less game though.
Jaxon Smith-Njigba - A weapon all over the field, he's been the most efficient player to target this season.
Puka Nacua - This could be the answer, one of the best WRs in the NFL, leading in catches and yards.
Christian McCaffrey - Rushing aspect hasn't been efficient enough so far, but a great bounceback year.
Amon-Ra St. Brown - Just wanted to recognize his elite start to the season.
DPOY:
Fred Warner
50 tackles, 3 TFLs, 2 FFs, 3 PDs.
I said we were going to have fun, so here's some more. The DPOY race is great so far, but let's reward the best LB in the league, who's playing on the 2nd level behind an inexperienced front four. Warner is one of the greatest cover LBs we've ever seen, while having sideline to sideline range and being the best run stuffer in the NFL. He's supporting a solid 49ers defense that has no other Pro Bowl players because he can shut off the entire middle of the field.
HMs to: Aidan Hutchinson - an incredible season, the reason Detroit has a top defense to start the season. In every opponent's backfield every week.
Myles Garrett - A dominant start, even with teams keyed in on him. Shooting into the backfield in an instant, he's often unstoppable.
Will Anderson Jr - He drops because he's surrounded by the best players, but that shouldn't diminish his elite start to the season.
Devin Lloyd - A ridiculous start to the year. He's asserting himself as an All Pro LB, with his crazy coverage ability and speed all over the field.
Micah Parsons/Patrick Surtain - worth mentioning due to their impact on the game, but not playing to the higher level right now.
CPOY:
Aidan Hutchinson
12 tackles, 5 TFLs, 5.0 sacks, 12 QB hits, 3 FF. 20 hurries, 32 pressures
Hutchinson has returned to elite form after an incredibly gruesome leg injury. He suffered a fractured his tibia and fibula in mid-October 2024. This would be the best CPOY since Alex Smith returned from the worst injury in NFL history.
HMs to: Christian McCaffrey - easily could be his award, after just 4 games in 2024 with bilateral achilles tendinitis and a PCL sprain.
Dak Prescott - playing elite football less than a year removed from a hamstring avulsion, which cost him 12 games in 2024.
Daniel Jones - only 5 games in 2024, mostly because he was bad. Looks like a legit great QB right now, this is a classic "career revival" CPOY award.
OROY:
Emeka Egbuka
25 rec, 445 yards, 5 TDs. 2 att, 9 yards.
With injuries to Bucs WRs, Egbuka has jumped on the scene in a massive way. Maybe he should be in the OPOY conversation instead. So fluid, fantastic hands, always there for Baker in clutch situations. All lead to averaging over 17 yards per reception(most for a player with 20+ catches).
HMs to: Tyler Warren - Just 5 weeks into his caeer, Warren has established himself as a top TE in the NFL. Second in yards on the best offense in the NFL with great efficiency for a TE. Even has a rushing TE!
Tetairoa McMillan - Already showing he is a WR1 on a pitiful offense. Elite hands and body control.
Quinshon Judkins - Missed a game, yet is top 20 in yards this season. Looking like a bellcow in Cleveland.
Will Campbell - Wanted an OL shoutout, especially with a relatively clean sheet.
DROY:
Carson Schwesinger
44 tackles, 2 TFLs, 1.0 sacks, 2 TFLs, 2 QB hits.
Schwesinger has filled in nicely as the Browns LB1, flying sideline to sideline on a top 10 defense with the green dot on his helmet. He's had great anticipation coming downhill and rarely gets stuck on blocks.
HMs to: Jihaad Campbell - He's been great next to All-Pro Zack Baun, holding his own in coverage and being a secure tackler downhill.
Abdul Carter - Benefitting from playing with Pro Bowlers around him, Carter's still shined with different alignments and 20 pressures.
Mykel Williams - No sacks posted yet, but 4 TFLs and double digit pressures while being the best player on the DL.
Upton Stout/Jacob Parrish - Neither winning this award, but I wanted to recognize the pair of 3rd rounders who have been balling out from the nickel spot.
POY:
Penei Sewell
0 sacks, 0 penalties, 1 hit, 3 pressures. 96 run block grade, 75 pass block grade, 94 overall. via PFF
The Lions RT has been one of the best in the business for a while, and he's begun this season as the best. Every big run is behind Sewell, whether off his behind or with Sewell working up to the second level, the run game works behind #58. And he's been perfect in pass pro since Week 1.
HMs to: Quenten Nelson - Back to All-Pro form recently, he's the best player on an OL leading a top offense in all regards. His movement and strength in the run game is top tier.
Dion Dawkins - Protecting Josh Allen's blindside, his rap-sheet is ridiculously clean. His splits, IQ, and agility in space helps pop big plays for Buffalo.
Tristan Wirfs - He's only been back two games, but the Bucs have felt the difference.
COY:
Kyle Shanahan
4-1 record, 1st place in NFC West, tied for best record in NFL.
It depends what metric you look at, but Shanahan has this misfit 49ers offense ranked in the top 10. This is the most injured team in the NFL, with injuries to 3 WRs, TE1, QB1, DE1, multiple DTs, multiple DBs, and a starting OLineman. And yet Shanahan has them playing up to the level of teams that are considered contenders. It's time for him to get his Coach of the Year.
HMs to: Shane Steichen - Considered on the hot seat to start the year, his Colts look like one of the best team in the NFL, and he's calling plays for the best offense. He has Daniel Jones looking like a Pro Bowler.
Dan Campbell - He lost both his coordinators in the offseason, and both sides of the ball have improved. His offense hasn't lost a beat, and they've won 4 straight.
Mike Vrabel - Leading a team filled with youth and free agent signings to a positive performance isn't as easy as Vrabel is making it look in his first season as New England's HC.
I hope these very relevant quarter season awards satisfy you. Thanks for reading through, and let me know who I forgot.
Stay tuned for more NFL and 49ers related news, articles, and opinions!
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